Steam-coupling



(No Model.)

, Z-She'ets-Sht 1. J. O. MITCHELL. STEAM COUPLING.

No. 558,696. Patented Apr. 21 1896.

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(No Model.)

J. 0.- MITCHELL. STEAM COUPLING.

NITED TATES JAMES C. MITCHELL, OF LANCASTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR, BYDIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF THREE-FOURTIIS TO IIUBERT R. WVEST,THOMAS M. IVEST, AND EDlYIN C. IVOOD, OF LEIVISTON, AND GEORGE F.THOMPSON, OF NEW GLOUCESTER, MAINE.

STEAM-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,696, dated April 211896. Application filed July 13,1895. Serial No. 555,834.. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Y Be it known that 1, JAMES (J. MITCHELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Coos and State of NewHampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in steamheating apparatus 5 and it has for its object the production of simpleand improved meansfor coupling the meeting pipes of the steam-heatingsystems of two adjoining railway-cars. In the systems now in general usethe steamdieating pipes of two adjoining cars are usually united by aflexible hose, which hangs down in a loop between the cars. This is aconstant source of annoyance because of the condensation of steamtherein, and the water thus formed frequently freezes in cold weather,thus impairing the efficiency of the heating service. Then again, train-hands are frequently scalded while in the act of uncoupling by theaccumulated water in said hose. It is these and other disadvantages thatmy invention is designed to overcome or correct.

In carrying out my invention I connect to the usual system ofsteam-pipes two extension-cylinders, one at each end of a car, and toeach of said cylinders is connected a pipe or sleeve, which is adaptedto slide back and forth therein and form an extension-joint, theinterior of said cylinders being supplied with packing to preventleaking. One of these pipes or sleeves is provided with a bell end,which is connected thereto by a universal joint, which is designed tocompensate for vibration, jerking, &c., of the cars when the steam-pipesare coupled. The other pipe or sleeve is provided with a headed portion,which is designed to enter said bell end and fit snug therein. Adjacentthe outer ends of each of said pipes or sleeves is secured a collar,against which bears one end of a coilspring encircling each of saidpipes or sleeves and bearing against the bell end and headed end,respectively. The steam-pipes proper are carried by the pipes or sleevesand are arranged to have a limited sliding movement therein, the innerends of said pipes being closed by a solid enlarged portion or headwhich is normally held against the ends of said sleeves by a suitablespring, said steampipes at their outer ends projecting a short distancebeyond the ends of said pipes or sleeves, whereby when the parts arecoupled the ends of said pipes will touch, and the pressure will pushthe solid or headed ends away from the other ends of said sleeves, thusallowing steam to pass from the extensioncylinders into the steam-pipesthrough holes or ports formed in the latter.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,.Figure 1 is a bottom plan view showing theadjoining ends of two cars and illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view of the parts uncoupled. Fig. 3 is a similarview showing the parts coupled. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view of oneof the tubes or sleeves B and its parts. Fig. 5 is an end view of thebell end of said sleeve.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the ordinary system ofsteam-heating pipes for a railway-car, the same at one end beingconnected by a coupliug-nut a to an exte11sioncylinder a, which issecured to the bottom of the car by suitable hangers a This cylinder isprovided with packing a and is provided with a drip-valve a whereby anyc0ndensation within said cylinder may be readily and quickly drawn off.

' \Vithin cylinder a is designed to work back and forth the inner end ofa pipe or sleeve B, which is additionally supported by a hanger I),provided with a tapering cylindrical portion through which said sleeveis passed, said taper being designed to allow for the vibration of thepipes while the car is in motion.

At its outer end the sleeve 13 is provided with a bell end I), which isunited to said sleeve by a universal joint I)", whereby said bell end iscapable of play in all directions to overcome vibration of the partswhile the car is in motion. Between the bell end Z) and a collar 11 onsleeve B bears a coil-spring b", which encircles said sleeve and isadapted to break the shock on the parts when two adjoining cars arecoupled together. At the other end of the car an extension-cylinder C issecured to the piping A, and the same is identical in every way withcylinder at. The sleeve 0, which leads therefrom, is provided with ahead 0 in lieu of the bell end I), said head being designed to fitwithin the bell end of the pipe or sleeve of an adjoining car when thetwo are coupled together.

D D represent tubular valve-stems, which fit within the pipes or sleevesl3 and C and are adapted to have a limited longitudinal movementtherein. Each of the valve-stems D is provided with a solid enlargedheaded portion cl, which is normallyheld close again st the end d ofeach sleeve B and O by a coilspring (1 which fits around a reducedportion d of each of said pipes. lloles or ports (1* are formed in eachvalve-stem adjacent the head d. The outer end d of each of saidvalve-stems is projected a short distance beyond the edge of thesupporting-sleeve.

The operation is as follows: When two cars are coupled together, thehead 0 of one section enters the bell end 1) of the other section, theprotruding ends (2 of the valve-stems D coming in contact and forcingthe enlarged ends or heads d away from the edge of its carrying-sleeve.Steam can then pass from the extension-cylinder through the ports d intothe tubular valve-stems D and thence to the adjoining car, a close jointbeing constantly maintained, the universal joint I) and springs 12compensating for vibration, jarring, jerking, &c., consequent upon thecars coming together, passing around curves, and the like. \Vhen thecars are uncoupled, the headed ends cl again seat themselves against theedges of their carrying-sleeves and thus shut off further passage of thesteam. For the purpose of convenience it is preferable to arrange twoseries of pipes at each end of a car, one being provided with the sleevehaving a bell end and the other with a sleeve having the headed portion,so as to avoid the delay and annoyance caused by cars becoming reversed.

The advantages of my invention are at once apparent. It will be seenthat a close joint is constantly maintained, that there can be little orno condensation, and that it is not necessary to go between the cars tocouple or nncouple the steam-pipes, as is now the case. It will also beseen that this system of coupling the pipes can be conveniently used forcoupling the air-pipes of the brake system.

I claim as my invention- 1. The herein-described coupler for steampipes,comprising an extension-cylinder, and sleeve adapted to work back andforth in said extension-cylinder and having a bell end, a second sleevehaving a headed end adapted to fit in said bell end, and tubularvalve-stems carried by said sleeves and having headed ends adapted toclose the ends of the latter, said valve-stems communicating with saidsleeves, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described coupler for steampipes, comprising anextension-cylinder, a sleeve adapted to work back and forth in saidextension-cylinder, a bell end connected thereto by a universal joint, asecond sleeve having a headed end adapted to fit in said bell end, andtubular valve-stems carried by said sleeves, and having headed endsadapted to close the ends of the latter, said valve-stems communicatingwith said sleeves, substantially as set forth.

3. The hereimdescribed coupler forsteampipes, comprising anextension-cylinder, a sleeve adapted to work back and forth in saidcylinder, a bell end connected thereto by a universal joint, a secondsleeve having a headed end adapted to fit in said bell end, tubularvalve-stems adapted to slide back and forth in said sleeves and providedwith closed headed ends and having communication with said sleeves, andmeans for normally holding said headed end against the ends of saidsleeves, substantially as set forth.

4. The herein-described coupler for steampipes, comprising anextensioncylinder, a sleeve adapted to work back and forth in saidcylinder,a bell end connected thereto by a universal joint, a secondsleeve having a headed end adapted to fit in said bell end, tubularvalve-stems adapted to slide back and forth in said sleeves and providedeach with an i11- ner closed portion and an outer open .portion andprovided with holes or openings adjacent said closed portion, and aspring for normally holding said closed portions against the ends ofsaid sleeves, substantially as set forth.

5. The herein-described coupler for steampipes, comprising anextension-cylinder, a sleeve adapted to work back and forth in saidcylinder, a bell end connected thereto by a universal joint, a secondsleeve having a headed end adapted to fit Within said bell end,coilsprings or buffers encircling said sleeves, and tubular valve-stemsadapted to slide back and forth in said sleeves and provided each withan inner closed portion and an outer open portion and having holes oropenings therein adjacent said closed portions, said outer open portionsbeing designed to project beyond said sleeves, and a spring for normallyholding said closed portions against the ends of said sleeves,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with an extension-cylinder, a sleeve adapted to workback and forth therein, a bell end connected to said sleeve by auniversal joint, of a second extensioncylinder, a sleeve adapted to workback and forth therein and provided with a headed end designed to fitWithin said bell end, tubular valve-stems adapted to slide back andforth in said sleeves and provided With inner headed ends, and springsfor normally holding said headed ends against the inner ends of saidsleeves, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with an extension-cylinder, a sleeve adapted to Workback and forth therein, a bell end connected to said sleeve by auniversal joint, of a second extension-cylinder, a sleeve adapted toWOIk back and forth therein and provided with a headed end designed tofit Within said bell end, tubular valve-stems adapted to slide back andforth in said sleeves and provided with inner headed or closed ends andouter extended portions, holes or openings being formed therein adjacentsaid closed ends, and springs for normally holding said closed endsagainst the inner ends of said sleeves, sub stantially as set forth.

8. The combination with an extension-cyl inder, a sleeve adapted to Workback and forth therein, a bell end connected to said sleeve by auniversal joint, of a second extension-cylinder, a sleeve adapted toWork back and forth therein and provided with a headed end designed tofit Within said bell end, hangers for said sleeves having taperingcylindrical portions, springs or bufiers encire cling said sleeves,tubular valve-stems adapted to Work back and forth in said sleeves andprovided With inner headed or closed ends and outer extended portions,holes or openings being formed therein adjacent said closed ends, andsprings for normally holding said closed ends against the inner ends ofsaid sleeves, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES C. MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

Jos. GREGORY, ELIZABETH S. PooLE.

